Fox River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Fox River Wildlife Area is 810 acres of public hunting land in Van Buren County, next to Mount Sterling, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasFox River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 810 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Van Buren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Van Buren County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Wetland, 2/3 Bottomland |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Mount Sterling (next to it), Cantril (7 mi) and Bonaparte (8 mi) |
What is Fox River Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 wetland, 2/3 bottomland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Fox River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and waterfowl for Fox River Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Fox River Wildlife Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Fox River Wildlife Area?
Fox River Wildlife Area lies in Van Buren County. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren County in 2025, against 2,365 in 2024.
| County | Fox River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County | 799 | 2,181 | 2,365 | 2,427 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Fox River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: Immediately S of Mt. Sterling.
Nearest towns: Mount Sterling (next to it), Cantril (7 miles), Bonaparte (8 miles) and Keosauqua (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 2 and IA 1.
What other public land is near Fox River Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Lake Sugema - CCB: 1,468 acres, 5 miles away
- Lake Sugema Wildlife Area: 2,396 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Daughrity Timber: 83 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit: 1,042 acres, 6.5 miles away
- De Voss-Foster Wildlife Area: 330 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Bentonsport Timber: 69 acres, 8.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Fox River Wildlife Area
Counting Fox River Wildlife Area itself, 810 of the 27,878 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 810 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Fox River Wildlife Area?
In Van Buren County, next to Mount Sterling.
What can you hunt on Fox River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Fox River Wildlife Area?
810 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Fox River Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Lake Sugema - CCB (5 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.